Blood & Roses is the third volume in GMT Games’ Men of Iron series, designed by Richard H. Berg, covering the Wars of the Roses in England between 1455 and 1487. True to the series’ reputation, it is built for quick learning and fast play – there are no rigid turns, combat resolves on a single die roll, and each of the included battles runs about one to two hours, from the opening clash at 1st St. Albans all the way to the decisive fight at Bosworth that ended the conflict.
What sets this entry apart from earlier Men of Iron titles is the period itself: heavily armored men-at-arms who mostly fought on foot despite riding to the battlefield, and the early, noticeable presence of gunpowder in the form of field artillery. The title itself nods to just how bloody these engagements were, taking its name from the grim nicknames given to several of the battlefields afterward. It is a fantastic entry point into the series if you want a taste of medieval warfare without a steep rules overhead, and it plays just as well solo as it does across the table from an opponent.
Check out the video below for a closer look:
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